look at

To turn your eyes towards someone or something to see them.

• Look at that bird.
• She looked at me and smiled.
• What are you looking at through the window?

Similar words: watch, view

Opposites: look away

Common phrases: look at someone, look at something

To look carefully at something to learn about it or check its condition.

• The doctor looked at my knee.
• Could you look at the engine before we leave?
• She is looking at the painting closely for signs of damage.

Similar words: examine, inspect, check

Common phrases: look at something, look at damage

To think carefully about an idea, choice, or problem.

• Let us look at our options.
• They looked at ways to reduce waste.
• Have you looked at buying a used car?

How to use it: look at doing something (We are looking at moving to a smaller flat.)

Similar words: consider, think about, examine

Common phrases: look at options, look at something

To be likely to experience something, often a punishment, cost, or difficult situation.

• He is looking at a large fine.
• We were looking at months of work to repair the house.
• Are they looking at prison time for this?

How to use it: be looking at something (We are looking at a repair bill of five hundred pounds.)

Similar words: face

Common phrases: look at something, look at jail time